The Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment (AWARE) recently delivered 548 pounds of fresh produce to the Whistler Food Bank.
Said food was locally grown across 14 dedicated garden plots: six in Cheakamus, five in Spruce Grove (including one in the Spruce Grove greenhouse) and two at the Myrtle Phillip Greenhouse. The plots were set up as part of AWARE's GROW Community Garden and Greenhouse Program with additional Value in Kind funding from the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW).
Planting began near the end of May, with five volunteers contributing 83 hours since then to cultivate produce and record data about the yields of the Cheakamus plots. Information from one harvest noted 35 pounds of peas, 30 pounds of kale, 22 pounds of zucchini, 20 pounds of lettuces, two pounds of beans and two pounds of radishes: all gifted directly to the Food Bank.
"Our hard work is paying off, and each week we’re proud to deliver fresh lettuce, peas, zucchini, and other seasonal vegetables to the Whistler Food Bank," said volunteer and lead farmer Patrick Smyth in a press release. "Beyond the food itself, the experience has been a lesson in teamwork, resilience, and the value of giving back, showing us how little patches of earth can grow into something that supports both local food security and community wellness."
'Imagine the possibilities'
The donation comes nearly a year after AWARE received a $50,000 grant from the Whistler Community Foundation’s allocation of the Community Prosperity Fund, itself a $25 million provincial initiative from the Government of British Columbia meant to reduce poverty and foster social inclusion.
GROW was selected to receive the grant money (to be spent over three years) because it provides more than 200 community members with the opportunity to cultivate their own food while developing environmental stewardship.
Before grant funding, the GROW program was managed part-time by contract staff due to financial limitations. The grant has enabled AWARE to increase capacity, secure permanent staffing and launch educational initiatives about its programming.
"It is fantastic to see the first rewards of community-driven solutions come to life via this initiative,” said Pegah Pourkarimi, Executive Director of AWARE, in a release. "We are lucky to have the support of the Community Prosperity Fund to continue delivering this program as a meaningful way to demonstrate the linkages between climate and social issues, while building resilience in the local food systems.
"This is only the beginning. Imagine the possibilities when more community members get involved, more gardens are grown, and together we cultivate a mountain town where everyone has access to fresh, healthy, and locally grown food."
Jackie Dickinson, Executive Director of the Whistler Community Services Society that runs the Food Bank, added: "As the rising cost of living continues to impact families in our community, we're seeing an increased demand for fresh produce which is becoming less financially accessible in grocery stores. Having locally grown, hardy crops is a huge asset to our team, as they tend to outlast recovered produce and help ensure we can provide nutritional diversity in our food bank throughout the week."
Click here to learn more about AWARE and the GROW program.
